Ray's music speaks to me. I love his vocal tone & emotion and his songs are usually simple in structure, yet surprisingly complex in execution.

This album came out in 2004/5 when I was starting to get really involved in weekly open mike nights and I loved performing his stuff with friends on accompaniment. When I found out that he quit his job when he heard Steven Stills' Treetop Flyer, it seemed like it was similar to my situation, unhappy with my myriad & varied employment opportunities, wanting to find something to latch onto (I wished I could get into the music industry as well, but lacked motivation to make it happen). When I realized that we were born six days & 100 miles apart, it cemented my appreciation for his work.

If you've ever checked the ratings for a particular song on here and find that people have given a "10" to a tune that you don't care for at all, maybe consider that more than just musicianship or songwriting impact how another person might be affected by a song. And both your feelings & theirs are completely true & legitimate.

One of his earliest tracks, and still one of his best in my opinion.

I guess racoons are trouble

Channeling Astral Weeks, I daresay.

 MuzikLover wrote:

Now that would be a real miracle.

♥️

not my favorite Ray Montagne song

 99 wrote: 
Too funny. More like if Tracy Chapman and Freddy Mercury had a kid and named him Ray.

Son Volt to Ray LaMontagne through the Stones...this is a fabulous set playing here at midnight on Left Coast Time.  

 chocodog wrote: 
What in the world does that have to do with his music?  Isn't that an admission that you were not really appreciating his music to begin with?

 bailey_comus wrote: 
I really like the ad, if you have to make one I'm going to the doggies! And yes Tracy Chapman did come to mind at the beginning.    

It's hard to blame an artist for selling a song to a commercial enterprise.  Too many artists get screwed by their labels, and end up in poverty when they should be living at least comfortably on royalties from their work.  If this commercial means that he has the ability to buy a house - or health insurance, good for him.

I thought it was a pretty good use of a tune to 'sell' a product.  The passion and emotion in his voice really convey 'trouble'.  

That said, I also thought it was Tracy C. when I first heard this.   

This guy must have the same publicist as Katy Perry. He gets played on tv shows, always on the radio.

 chocodog wrote: 

Let's see....... postpone a show for probably 2-3000 people to make an appearance on US National television?  Tough decision!!

Can't hear this song anymore without visualizing that stoopid Traveller's commercial about the neurotic dog and his stoopid bone...okay, I have a bone to pick.

It has been ruined by being in a commercial that plays too much.

Aaaahhhhhhhhh... sing it, Ray.  It doesn't get much better than this.  The soul in his voice!  He's painfully awkward in interviews, bless'm.  His music just grabs hold of me.  Thanks, RP! 

not my favorite, but i can hear the talent

A true, original talent, I think.

 chocodog wrote: 

poor baby  , tell me you would not have done the same had the situations been reversed? the song btw, is a solid 5.

i was just listening to this song on my way back to work from lunch..  good song so i don't mind the double take.

i used to like Ray ... then he canceled the show i had tickets for last week so he could play SNL last saturday. pure sell out move. now the music tastes like sour wine.

 Nebben wrote: 
Not weird.  That's what I thought as well.

 ScopArch wrote: 
No. Such. Thing.

Bill, how do I make an 11 ranking?

Too. Much. Ray.

His new album came out today (13th Oct) Apart from maybe 3 tracks it's a pretty solid album, I've just uploaded winter birds to the LRC, My favourite song on the album. This song will always be a favourite of his only because the first time i heard it it was live on tv and THAT voice made me stop everything and listen. One of the best voices in music today.

 I always look when I hear him to see who it is, then a moment later, forget. But now the memories have accumulated and I just might have to become his fan on Facebook.

This song just makes me happy.

Ahhhhh, my Monday morning theme song. The trouble/worry part

I almost hear the spirit of Freddy Mercury bubbling up through Ray in those high note stretches.
Great tune.

1:17 am - Ray LaMontagne - Trouble 1:14 am - Astor Piazzolla - Ausencias 1:11 am - Pat Metheny Group - Above The Treetops 1:07 am - Azure Ray - Look To Me 1:03 am - Tom McRae - Keep Your Picture Clear 1:00 = 9:00 where I am. What an outstanding play list to start the working day. I probably won't cuss anyone for ... hours.

Looks like that devil can really cut a rug.

I guess I need to give Ray another chance. I saw him live at the Austin City Limits music festival in 2006, and he didn't sound like he sounds in his recordings. Our one friend (who didn't go to the festival that year) was/is infatuated with him, and told us we must see his performance. We were less than impressed at the time, and I wrote him off. But now I've liked everything of his that I've heard here on RP, so I guess I should give him another chance! Yay RP for helping me see the light!

What I like about Ray is that he stands out from the crowd. I saw an interview with him recently where he talked about how hard it is to maintain creative integrity when working under a major label. Thank goodness he's sticking to his guns!

The best damn thing I've heard no RP all day!

Yet another great song from a tremendous talent!

I've lately been mainlineing Rescue Me on DVD and Ray is often featured on the soundtrack, so now I have pictures of Denis Leary in my head when I hear him. It may take a while to get over that.

Like this one

Such phrasing. Ray audited a few classes at the Ben Harper school.

youngj wrote: omg, what a nice thing to say- and I have to agree!

I\'ve had a shitty day. This song, at 8:10 EST, is like a great glass of wine to end it. Thanks RP!

One of the joys of having discovered RP is being able to once again add quality music to my collection. One of the downsides to having discovered RP is once again spending too much money on buying music. Seriously, Ray LaMontagne is good times. Thanks to RP for allowing me to hear about him.

scozzie wrote: ...and my rating(or lack of)chipped it down to 8.1 Not a grand song at all.

bokey wrote: You could comment on his non-husky, immature voice.

daisky wrote: Pleased to say that my rating managed to recover another 0.1 - we'll get it back to 8.4 again !!!!!

daisky wrote: No, not even close to an 8.

glad to know that my rating of this song helped drop it by 0.1 its not a bad song, but 8.4? i dont think so.

always moving any time any where

I'm in love... simply amazing!

I was going to comment on her husky mature voice but I guess that's out.

99 wrote: lol. When this track started, I thought it was Tracy Chapman, too. Weird.

I liked him better when he recorded under the name Tracy Chapman. Actually Ray LaMontagne is pretty good. I've seen him perform live twice.

boober wrote: ME TOO!. I recognize him now and always like what I hear. I also heard a piece on him on NPR.

Thankyou RP I'm now a fan of Ray LaMontagne's

Oh, thank you thank you Bill & Rebecca. Ray is one of those so amazingly full of soul and life when he performs. Get this album if you don't have it already!

I like...

great song on a great album, start to finish. i just bought his new album as well, good stuff, but a little over "polished" in my opinion.

What a beautiful, beautiful song.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

First comment?? 10++++, the scale isn't close to high enough. OUTSTANDING album, start to finish...can't get enough of it.

GIMME TAYLOR HICKS!!!!!